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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-16 City Council Minutes Approved City Council Minutes—September 16, 2019 Mayor Pro Tem Matt Miller called to order the Anacortes City Council meeting of September 16,2019 at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers Eric Johnson,Anthony Young,Ryan Walters, Carolyn Moulton,Bruce McDougall and Matt Miller were present. Councilmember Brad Adams was absent. The assembly joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Announcements and Committee Reports Anacortes Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award from the Depai intent of Ecology: Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer reported that the Washington State Department of Ecology had awarded the City of Anacortes a Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance Award for 2018, for the 8tn consecutive year. Mayor Pro Tem Miller shared the award with Mr. Buckenmeyer and Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Becky Fox. Skagit County Law&Justice Council: Mr. Miller reported from the LJC meeting the prior Wednesday at which the primary topic was the Guardian RFID wristband project at the Skagit County jail. Finance Committee: Mr. Walters reported from the committee meeting the prior Wednesday at which topics discussed included State Drinking Water Fund loans and which capital projects could most advantageously make use of that funding source, other budgeted water capital projects,the affordable housing sales tax and factors related to Anacortes imposing an additional qualifying tax, changing the biennial budget process to automatically roll over unspent funds from the first year to the second year of the biennium, and the sewer and water GFC proposal from the prior week City Council meeting. Personnel Committee: Mr. Young and Ms. Moulton reported from the recent committee meeting and complimented new HR Manager Vanessa Bronsema. Ms. Moulton noted that regularly scheduled union negotiations were underway and that inclusion training would be offered to all city staff in October. Public Works Committee: Ms. Moulton reported from the committee meeting earlier in evening at which topics discussed included the Senior Center roof emergency that would be addressed on the Consent Agenda, ongoing work on an MOU with Skagit PUD regarding acquisition of the South Fidalgo water system, acquisition of additional property adjacent to the water treatment plant, and demolition of the old water treatment plant. Mr. Miller reported that Mayor Gere would return from a Sister Cities trip later in the week. Public Comment Douglas Thurber,PO Box 159, followed up on his comments from the August 12,2019 City Council meeting regarding reusing plastic bags. Mr. Thurber demonstrated the frailty of many plastic bags,then reported that San Juan Island does not allow single use plastic bags but does allow sturdier plastic bags in retail stores. He displayed samples. Mr. Thurber suggested that instead of banning plastic bags, City Council look at alternatives. Mr. Thurber also requested that if City Council were to vote on banning plastic bags,Mr. Johnson recuse himself because Mr. Johnson had attended a Transition Fidalgo meeting at which a plastic bag ban was discussed and may be a member of that group. Mr. Thurber said that Transition Fidalgo is a political action committee. Mr. Johnson clarified that he is not a member of Transition Fidalgo and that he attended the group's meeting for a housing affordability presentation. Anacortes City Council Minutes September 16, 2019 1 Consent Agenda Mr. Young removed Item 5b,Approval of Claims, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Walters removed Item 5d, Fiber Master Services Agreement, from the Consent Agenda. Mr. Johnson moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to approve the following Consent Agenda items. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. a. Minutes of September 9, 2019 c. Contract Award: WTP Electrical Switchgear Maintenance#19-145-WTR-001 e. Resolution 2058: Finding of an Emergency for the Senior Center Roof Replacement The following vouchers/checks were approved for payment: EFT numbers: 94574 through 94617,total$256,164.36 Check numbers: 94573 and 94618 through 94646,total $751,026.93 Wire transfer numbers: 255553 through 255820,total $2,025.14 b. Approval of Claims in the amount of: $1,009,910.91 Mr. Young again urged staff to purchase locally when legally and economically feasible. He commended the departments that were achieving more local purchasing. Mr. Young moved, seconded by Mr. Johnson,to approve the claims as presented. Mr. Walters and Mr. Miller also commented on this topic. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. d. Fiber Master Services Agreement Mr. Walters noted that all contracting authority on behalf of the city resides with City Council and that Council can delegate and had delegated specific contract authority to the mayor. He moved, seconded by Mr. McDougall,to authorize the mayor to enter into contracts with individual fiber customers using the terms of the fiber master services agreement template as presented. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS Pickett Pocket Park Agreement 19-143-PRK-001 Parks and Recreation Director Jonn Lunsford requested Council approval of a property agreement with four separate landowners to work cooperatively to vacate the unopened alley right-of-way on the east side of the 2100 block of Commercial Avenue and transfer ownership of a portion of the vacated area to the City for construction and management of the Pickett Pocket Park. Mr. Lunsford outlined the process for vacating the right-of-way and described the features of the planned pocket park,referring to his slide presentation which was added to the packet materials for the meeting. Mr. Walters moved, seconded by Mr. Young,to approve the property agreement. Mr. Johnson confirmed with Ms. Swetnam that no money would change hands as part of the agreement. Vote: Ayes-Young,Walters, Miller, Moulton,McDougall and Johnson. Motion carried. Combined Sewer Overflow(CSO)Reduction Study Mr. Buckenmeyer referred to prior Council consideration of this topic,most recently on August 5,2019. He requested that Council reach a consensus on whether staff and consultants should continue their efforts towards upgrading the wastewater treatment plant sewer outfall. Mr. Buckenmeyer said that would allow staff and the consultants to proceed with the final engineering report for the recommended solution, add the project to the city's Capital Facilities Plan, and then begin design and permitting. Anacortes City Council Minutes September 16, 2019 2 Eric Bergstrom, Senior Project Manager at consultant HDR, called attention to the memo in the packet materials responding to Council's prior request for a summary of the options to address the city's sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) issues. Mr. Bergstrom summarized the SSO issues and the recommended solution in a slide presentation that was added to the packet materials for the meeting. He responded to councilmember questions about outflow screening and other discharge improvements,retirement of the existing CSO and treatment plant outfalls following construction of a new outfall,and integrated planning for improvements. Mr. Buckenmeyer and Finance Director Steve Hoglund responded to councilmember questions about funding sources for the recommend solution and the city's overall debt burden. At the conclusion of this discussion Mr. Miller confirmed with his colleagues on the dais that all present supported staff continuing to pursue recommended Option 4 and completing the final engineering report accordingly. There being no further business, at approximately 7:08 p.m. the Anacortes City Council meeting of September 16, 2019 was adjourned. Anacortes City Council Minutes September 16, 2019 3